BRUSSELS – U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis’ demand that NATO allies increase their military spending has justifiably dominated the Feb. 15-16 defense ministers’ meeting.

But Mattis also signaled a tough approach to Russia, in contrast to the mixed signals from U.S. President Donald J. Trump

Trump has alternated between being the leading apologist for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and, since the resignation of pro-Kremlin national security adviser Michael Flynn on Feb. 13, telling Putin to give Crimea back to Ukraine and de-escalate the war in the Donbas.

Referring to Putin’s war against Ukraine, Mattis said upon arrival in Brussels, that “the events of 2014 were sobering and we must continue to adapt to what’s been revealed to us in terms of our security challenges.”

In his closed-door speech to defense ministers, according to a transcript provided to journalists, Mattis repeatedly invoked the Russian threat.

“While the United States and the alliance seek to engage Russia, we must at the same time defend ourselves if Russia chooses to act contrary to international law,” Mattis said. “Just as we did throughout the darkest days of the Cold War, the United States remains willing to keep open political channels of cooperation and de-escalate tensions.

“We remain open to opportunities to restore a cooperative relationship with Moscow, while being realistic in our expectations and ensuring our diplomats negotiate from a position of strength. We are not willing, however, to surrender the values of this alliance nor let Russia, through its actions, speak louder than anyone in this room.

“We will buttress this alliances and defend ourselves, even as we watch for a Russia that lives up to its commitments in the NATO-Russia Founding Act. Balancing collaboration and confrontation is admittedly an uncomfortable strategic equation.”

Besides confronting Islamic extremism and responding to a more assertive China, Mattis said NATO is vital “to blocking Russia’s efforts to weaken democracies.”

He again invoked Russia’s war on Ukraine, including the seizure of Crimea, when he said that “the year 2014 awakened us to a new reality: Russia used force to alter the borders of one of its sovereign neighbors.”

He also scolded some alliance members, without mentioning any by name, saying that “while these events have unfolded before our eyes, some in this alliance have looked away in denial of what is happening. For despite the threats from the east and south, we have failed to fill gaps in our NATO Response Force or to adapt to modern threats, or increase the readiness of much of our force structure.”

Mattis, the retired general who once served as NATO’s supreme commander for transformation, sprinkled his remarks with historical references and closed with a ringing call to honor past commitments for the benefit of future generations.

“We have freedom today only because the people before us devoted the resources necessary to address reality. We owe it to them, and we owe it to our children to ensure tomorrow the peace we cultivate today.”

If these sentiments translate into NATO and Trump administration policy, the alliance – and those outside the alliance that are threatened by Russia — will have more secure futures.